Reds 6, Athletics 4: Wild. Francisco Cordero couldn’t hold a 2-1 lead in the ninth, giving up a Kevin Kouzmanoff homer to send it into extras. The Reds hit three dingers off the A’s pen in the tenth to take a 6-2 lead. Cordero then walked the first two A’s batters to start the bottom of the tenth and was yanked. The A’s end up having the bases loaded with no outs, but only score two — both on groundouts — and then Jack Cust whiffs to end the game. Thanks to the A’s massive failure, Cordero ends up getting what may be the least-deserved win by a pitcher this season.

Diamondbacks 10, Yankees 4: A.J. Burnett and his straight, deception-free fastball gets shelled by the Dbacks for seven runs on nine hits, leaving the outcome of this one without any doubt from the get-go.

Nationals 2, Royals 1: The Royals manage 11 hits but only one run thanks to two caught stealings, a pickoff and a couple of sacrifices. Viva small ball and everything, but you give away outs like that and you make even a tomato can like Livan Hernandez look good.

Brewers’ right-hander Phil Bickford received a 50-game suspension after testing positive for a drug of abuse, per the Los Angeles Times’ Bill Shaikin. This is the second time Bickford has been suspended for recreational drug use, as he was previously penalized in 2015 after testing positive for marijuana prior to the amateur draft.

Bickford was selected by the Giants in the first round of the 2015 draft and was later dealt to the Brewers for lefty reliever Will Smith at the 2016 trade deadline. He finished his 2016 campaign in High-A Brevard County, pitching to a 3.67 ERA, 10.0 K/9 rate and 5.0 BB/9 over 27 innings.

Two other suspensions were handed down on Friday, one to Toronto minor league right-hander Pedro Loficial for a positive test for metabolites of Stanozolol and one to Miami minor league outfielder Casey Soltis for a second positive test for drugs of abuse. Loficial will serve a 72-game suspension, while Soltis will serve 50 games. All three suspensions are due to start at the beginning of the 2017 season for each respective minor league team.

We are very disappointed to learn of Phil’s suspension, but we fully support the Minor League Baseball Drug Prevention and Testing Program and its enforcement by the Commissioner’s Office. Phil understands he made a mistake, and we fully anticipate that he will learn from this experience.

Confirming a report from Tuesday, the Diamondbacks officially signed right-hander Fernando Rodney to a one-year, $2.75 million contract on Friday. The 39-year-old stands to receive up to $4 million in incentives, per Jack MacGruder of FanRag Sports, with $250,000 kicking in when the veteran reaches 40, 50 and 60 appearances and $500,000 if he reaches 70.

Rodney came three games shy of the 70-appearance mark in 2016 during back-to-back stints with the Padres and Marlins. He put up a cumulative 3.44 ERA on the year, which effectively disguised the extreme split during his performances in San Diego and Miami. The Diamondbacks aren’t anywhere close to contending in 2017, but Rodney should stabilize the back end of their bullpen while providing Arizona GM Mike Hazen with a potential trade chip during next year’s deadline.

With Fernando, we’re getting an established Major League closer and a veteran presence in the bullpen. It is helpful to have someone with his experience on the back end to slow the game down and get the final three outs.